Elaine Clare Gillette de Noriega passed away at age 82 on October 13, 2017 at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen, TX. She was born on February 26, 1935 in New Orleans, LA to J. Mabel Liner of Ruston, LA and Victor August Gillette of New Orleans, LA. She was a graduate of St Joseph's Academy, Dominican College, Soule Business College, and she also attended Louisiana State University. She worked for the Delta Steam Ship Company in New Orleans before marriage to Dr. Luis Noriega on January 25, 1963. They moved to Mexico City where she raised two sons, Miguel and David, and one daughter, Laura and taught English at the Modern American School.  The family moved to Brownsville, TX in 1979, where she was active in the Roman Catholic Church at St. Mary's and St. Luke’s parishes and lived the remainder of her life with a joyful focus on friends and family. Throughout her life she had a great love for the performing arts, especially Broadway musicals.

Elaine is preceded in death by her husband, Luis, her father, her mother, and her brother Ronald P. Gillette. She is survived by her loving family; son Miguel, son David, daughter Laura, daughter-in-law Michelle; grandsons Alan, Brian and Cameron; brother J. Wayne Gillette and sister-in-law Janie; nieces Clare (Rodrigo), Amelie (Mark), Alexandra (Daan), and nephew John (Megg); grand-nephews and nieces Ethan, Benjamin, Vivienne and Beatrice.  A life is lost, but it does not end.
 
Family and friends are invited to attend the Funeral Mass at 12:15 pm on Saturday, October 21, 2017 in the J. Garic Schoen Chapel of JACOB SCHOEN & SON. Visitation will begin at 10:30 am and continue until Mass time. Condolences may be expressed at www.schoenfh.com

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